A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic comedy as a genre (most likely useful with the study of Shakespeare). The lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of comedy as a genre. The activities should take one lesson, but may take two. There is also an opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to an extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Much ado About Nothing’ at the end. This PowerPoint will be most useful with higher-level GCSE students aiming for grades 7,8 and 9 in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, enabling them to explore method and genre as they read, which will help in their reaching higher levels in the examination. Could be adapted for aspiring grade 6 students. The PowerPoint might also be used as a starting point for A Level English Literature students although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less able A Level students who benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion (I have used a version of this PowerPoint as a starting point with an AS group for coursework under an old spec). Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Climbing My Grandfather’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6-9 The resource contains the following: AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper Warm-up activity A brief biography of Andrew Waterhouse A link to an audio of a reading of the poem A link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint) A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions A short plenary Followed by: Teacher notes -three slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Waterhouse’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. Use of extended metaphor, mountaineering lexis, narrative verse etc.) NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.) Kind regards, Englbee x

This is high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Seamus Heaney’s 'Follower’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to ‘Walking Away’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the significance of the opening stage directions of An Inspector Calls Prior to the lesson, students will need to have read to the opening stage direcitons Includes: LOs and skills Whole class modelling activity Group work and discussion to explore the opening stage directions Model Answers Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adapatble PowerPoint for mid-high GCSE English Literature students on Gerald’s involvement with Eva/Daisy and Sheila’s developing character. Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A prompt slide to read Gerald’s involvement with focus questions Pictures to explore Gerald’s involvement with Eva A discussion slide on women and class with ideas in notes for teacher to explore with class Sheila’s speech to Gerald A slide with key language highlighted on Shelia’s speech A sample written response to analyse Sheila’s characterisation which can be used partially or wholly for modelling or revision/notes A reflective actvity as a plenary Best wishes, Englbee.

Looking for a high-level example of a persuasive speech to show to your level 7+ GCSE group? Or looking to inspire Year 9 as they lead up to the English GCSE? This speech contains a number of devices for you to explore with your class in order to consider what a strong piece of writing might look like on English Language paper 2. At the end, you will find a section for pupils to complete against the AQA mark scheme (not provided) for writing on language paper 2 in order to justify the marks given for the piece of writing. Don’t waste your precious time writing your own high-level piece. Use this. There are four more high-level answers here for you: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/advise-argue-persuade-explain-gcse-high-level-model-writing-answers-english-language-paper-2-11914737 Best wishes, Englbee

Nine GCSE revision posters for Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’. These posters would be useful to display in classrooms, but may find an even better purpose as revision tools. Pupils can struggle to distil and make notes on Shakespeare; these posters offer key themes and ideas on each character with up to three relevent quotations (and references) for each. Something to give to less-able pupils to take away and revise from. For more able, a starting point towards further revision. Could be displayed as A3 or made into an A4 booklet. Your free Benedick poster can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/much-ado-about-nothing-benedick-poster-free- Best wishes, Englbee x

This is high-level revision sheet of Lord Byron’s ‘When We Two Parted’ for students aiming for grades 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to Winter Swans and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet. Kind regards, Englbee x

A comprehensive scheme of work on Much Ado about Nothing for high-ability GCSE groups aiming for grades 6-9. There are 17 PowerPoints, one for each scene. Each PowerPoint has discussion, analysis and exploration of at least three themes with very detailed notes under each slide for teachers. There are further slides on each PowerPoint on Dramatic Comedy Genre; Shakespeare’s Method; and Context. Again, there are comprehensive notes relating to these areas so that you can teach with confidence. You will find the following… Themes: Love and War Gender and Identity Appearance and Reality (Constructive, Destructive & Self-Deception) Private Desire and Social Approval Legitimate and Illegitimate Behaviours Theatre of War and Domestic Sphere Miscommunication Transformation Dramatic Comedy Genre: Metadrama Metalanguage Significance of Structure Pairs and Parallels Antithesis Low Comedy Comedy Endings Shakespeare’s Method: Characterisation and conceptualisation Significance of Structure Significance of language inc. imagery, symbolism, classical references, self- reflexive language, malapropism, poetry, and prose Shakespeare’s use of stagecraft Shakespeare’s drawing attention to theatre as artifice Context: Women, identity, sexual behaviour within the 16th Century The importance of reputation Ontological death Patriarchal Hegemony Elizabethan Fashion/Significance of Clothing The social significance of marriage in the 16th Century Chivalric Love Renaissance Humanism The role of the Church within the play and the 16th Century The importance of legitimacy and the ‘problem’ of illegitimacy 16th Century ‘Police Force’ (The Watch) Hierarchical structure of society

A character revision poster of Lady Macbeth with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of Macbeth with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A high-level analysis of the Inspector’s Final Speech in the play, An Inspector Calls. The analysis is 600 words long approximately. Offered as both an adaptable Word doc. and PDF. The short essay offers a high degree of close analysis of language and method as well as conceptualised interpretations in order to hit those top levels (7-9). Useful for any high-ability class studying A Inspector Calls. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘When We Two Parted’ by Lord Byron in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7-9 The resource contains the following: PowerPoint: AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper Warm-up activity A brief biography of Lord Byron A link to an audio of a reading of the poem A copy of the poem A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions A short plenary Followed by: Teacher notes -two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Byron’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. cyclical structure, negative lexical fields etc.) NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.) Kind regards, Englbee x

This is high-level revision sheet of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s 'Sonnet 29: I think of thee…’ for students aiming for grades 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to ‘Love’s Philosophy’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet. Best wishes, Englbee x

A high-level GCSE essay for those studying Much Ado about Nothing for AQA English Literature Paper 1 The resource offers an extract from Act 4 scene 1 with an AQA-style examination question on the characterisation of Benedick (small amount shown in synopsis). There follows an essay which focuses on the question. The essay is written to a high-level for those aiming for grades 7-9 (although might help aspiring grade 6 also). The essay is around a side-and-a-half typed, meaning handwritten it would be about four sides (in keeping with high-level candidate expectations). After the essay, there is discussion as to: how the essay’s approach fits AQA’s ‘extract to whole’ further insight booklet on GCSE English Literature how the essay hits AO1, AO2 and AO3. how the essay covers higher band criteria The resource is fully-adapatable for you to change as needed for your OWN classroom use. Best wishes, Englbee x

Al revision sheet of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Neutral Tones’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to ‘Winter Swans’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Neutral Tones’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6- 9 The resource contains the following: AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper A warm-up acitvity A brief biography of Thomas Hardy A link to an audio of a reading of the poem A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking A copy of the poem A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions A short plenary Followed by: Teacher notes - two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Hardy’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. cyclical structure, time shift, enclosed rhyme, symbolism, unusual language collocations etc…) NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Why? Is there a clear structure? etc.) Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on Birling’s involvement with Eva Smith in Act One of An Inspector Calls. The resource is suitable for a mid-high level group studying the text for GCSE Literature. The resource contains: LOs and learning skills outline Reading and note-making on Birling’s involvement with Eva An exploration of the skill of distilling evidence from a text which will be practised today A table to complete on language used to demonstrate Birling’s views on Eva as a contrast to that of Eric, Sheila and the Inspector A slide with a completed table for pupils to fill in any gaps or offer other suggestions of evidence they might have An exploration of what Eric and Sheila’s views are and who they most closely align with An exploration of the significance of Eric and Sheila siding with the Inspector’s views rather than their father’s A plenary in which students can reflect on wider themes and issues explored in Birling’s involvement with Eva, and the two side of the argument (capitalist vs socialist) A reflection on the skill of distilling information today and what students did to achieve this. Under most slides also are detailed indicative comments or answers for the teacher which can be shared as appropriate with students or simply used to aid the teacher during discussion. These could be collated and printed off separately if the teacher needs extra support and notes during the lesson. Kind regards, Englbee x

A fully-adapatble PowerPoint for mid-high GCSE English Literature students on the contrasting language and characterisation of Shelia and Mrs Birling. Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A slide-prompt to read pp. 27-33 with a focus question A table with the contrasting language of Shelia and Mrs Birling; in the notes section, ideas for teachers on how to tackle a question on contrasting language as a written task A sample response (five paragraphs) on Shelia’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A sample response (five paragraphs) on Mrs Birling’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A reflective plenary task in which students are asked to sort various adjectives into two groups to reflect the contrasting characterisations of Shelia and Mrs Birling and their links to the play’s wider themes and ideas. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith in Act One of An Inspector Calls. The resource is suitable for a mid-high level group studying the text for GCSE Literature. The resource contains: LOs/Skills slide A quick exploration of the Inspector’s sardonic language and why Priestley uses this method to characterise him (might be done prior to lesson as a homework; could be done as a separate lesson prior to the ‘Sheila’ lesson; answer slide could be given as handout if pushed for time) A slide to briefly note down Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith A slide to explore Sheila’s characterisation and role in the play at this point An exemplar answer slide to previous An exploration of the play’s structure and its symbolic significance (parts making the whole) A plenary in which students reflect on Sheila’s role and the skills of noticing, analysing and making links made today to further understand Priestley’s methods. As well as answer slides, other slides have teacher notes underneath with sample ideas and answers. Best wishes, Englbee x